Nothing quite says “summer" like a big slice of watermelon on a hot day. Walk with us as we weave our way through the WONDERful world of the watermelon!

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a vine-like flowering plant. The fruit of this plant — what we commonly call a "watermelon" — is considered by botanists to be a pepo. A pepo is a berry with a thick rind and a fleshy center.

So, botanically, watermelons are fruits, and most people think of them as fruits since they're so sweet and juicy. However, watermelons are grown in gardens like a vegetable. Because they're grown like a vegetable and related to the cucumber, squash, and pumpkin, some people think of them as vegetables.

Experts believe watermelon first developed in the Kalahari Desert region of Southern Africa. Archaeologists have found ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs that show the first watermelon harvest occurred at least 5,000 years ago.

When you bite into a piece of watermelon, you instantly know how it got its name. Each bite of watermelon contains about 92 percent water and 6 percent sugar. Since it consists mostly of water, its name makes perfect sense!

Despite being mostly water with a bit of sugar, watermelon is considered a very healthy snack. Its high water content helps keep you hydrated. Watermelon is also a good source of vitamin C, beta carotene, and lycopene.

Did you know that you can also eat watermelon rinds? It's true!

Although many people don't like their flavor, watermelon rinds are often cooked as a vegetable in China, which produces more watermelons than any other country in the world. The Chinese stir-fry, stew, and even pickle watermelon rinds.

If you ever visit Japan, you might not recognize watermelons if you're looking for large, round melons. Japanese farmers have developed ways to grow watermelons shaped like cubes. In addition to being unique, square watermelons turn out to be much easier to stack.

One of the other famous parts of the watermelon is its seeds. Why? They're used hundreds of times every year during watermelon seed-spitting contests.

No one knows for sure how such interesting competitions got started, but they have become a very popular part of county fairs and summer celebrations all around the country.

So just how far can someone spit a watermelon seed? Pretty far! Jason Schaynot of Georgetown, Texas, holds the world record. In 1995, he spit a watermelon seed an incredible 78 feet 6 inches!

Did you get it?

Wonder What's Next?

Better wear shorts and bring along a fan to tomorrow’s super-steamy Wonder of the Day!

Try It Out

Hungry yet? Invite a few friends and family members over and sink your teeth into the following juicy activities:

If your brain can't stop thinking about a big slice of mouth-watering watermelon, what are you waiting for? Ask an adult friend or family member to take you to the grocery store or a farmer's market to buy a delicious watermelon. Enjoy slicing it open when you get home. Be sure to save the seeds for another activity!

Have you ever tasted watermelon rind? If not, give it a try! Ask an adult friend or family member to help you slice up a watermelon rind into small pieces that you can cook like a vegetable. What do you think? Will watermelon rind become a staple vegetable at your house? Why or why not?

Ready to have the most fun you've ever had learning math? It's time to have a watermelon seed-spitting contest…and learn about measurement and averages while you're at it! You can also use sunflower seeds if you can't find watermelon seeds right now. Find a spot on a sidewalk or the street to have your contest. Get as many friends and neighbors as you can to participate. Mark a starting line on the ground that all contestants will stay behind. Have each contestant take turns spitting 10 seeds. Use your measuring device to determine how far from the starting line each seed landed. Record all your results in a notebook. Award prizes (we recommend a fat, juicy watermelon!) to the contestants who spitted seeds the farthest overall and the farthest on average. To determine each contestant's average seed-spitting distance, add up the total of all 10 individual measurements and then divide by the total number of attempts (10).

Wonderopolis

cool

Wonderopolis

Apr 18, 2018

Hi, cool! Watermelons are considered fruits, but they're also related to the cucumber, squash, and pumpkin, so they have some similarities to vegetables, too! It's interesting to learn about, isn't it?!

cakedesigner123

Wonderopolis

Apr 1, 2013

We're so glad you've been visiting us every morning, Wonder Friend CakeDesigner123! It's a joy to Wonder with you!
It sounds like you're an adventurous cake decorator-- keep up the AWESOME work! Practice makes perfect and we hope you'll keep trying that decorative rose! :)

Wonderopolis

shalize

Mar 19, 2013

I thought that video is super great, because the guy has a lot of talent to make that rose out of a watermelon! Maybe I can draw a person, but I can't carve a watermelon and count it as art. If I did that it'll look like pish posh. Well... I'll keep WONDERing WONDERful questions! :D

Wonderopolis

Mar 19, 2013

We are so excited to read your comment, Wonder Friend Shalize! Thanks for telling us about your favorite parts of our Wonder video-- we bet you can use your awesome imagination to create some food art in the future, too! We hope you have a WONDERful day filled with COOL ideas and lots of SMILES! :)

Wonderopolis

Naya B

Nov 28, 2012

I just wanted to thank you for all the intelligence you guys have given me. You guys rock and I will always be your little "wonder friend" but right now I need your opinion which wonder is your favorite wonder of all time that I should right about in my Wonderopolis report? Thanks again for bringing me knowledge!

Ricardo leonides

Wonderopolis

Jul 20, 2012

We liked the video for this Wonder a lot, too, Ricardo! It's AWESOME that the artist could carve something so WONDERful from a simple watermelon! Thanks for being a GREAT Wonder Friend and sharing your comment with us today! :-)

Wonderopolis

Jun 4, 2012

Thanks so much for WONDERing more about the talented watermelon carver in the video for this Wonder, Rosie! We don't know Mr. Nikolic, but we think he's an AWESOME artist! Because we choose videos from many different places to accompany our Wonders of the Day (like YouTube and Vimeo), we don’t always know everything about the people in them. We make sure the videos are safe for our Wonder Friends to view, though! :-)

KatlynPhillips

May 23, 2012

Watermelons are the tastiest fruit in the whole wide world! I wonder what was the largest watermelon in the world? How big was it? Where was it found at? Every summer, my grandma buys some watermelons. I could eat 6 slices of watermelon right now!

Wonderopolis

May 23, 2012

We agree that watermelon sure is tasty, Katlyn! It's a WONDERful summertime treat! Here's a link for you to learn more about a World Record-holding watermelon: http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/2000/heaviest-watermelon. :-)

Wonderopolis

Rose

Wonderopolis

Dec 7, 2011

Hello, Rose! Thank you for letting us know you liked this Wonder of the Day®! We think it takes a lot of artistic ability to be able to carve a watermelon like the artist in the video! We thought it was awesome, too! :-)

andrew the beach

Wonderopolis

andrew the beach

Sep 29, 2011

Wooooooooooooow, that is very neat!!! It didn't tell us how much water was in the watermelon though! But it was neat how the guy made the three flowers!!! That was so amazing. 92% in the watermelon! I think the watermelon weighs 5 pounds! I'm glad the video was a Wonder of the day. I am amazed he could do that. That man was really good. That man is skilled. those watermelons were too pretty to eat. Slice it, then eat it. Hahahahahahahaha!!! Watermelons are awesome!!! The watermelon that he carved was so cool! Have a watermelon for a special snack. Watermelons are very healthy and very good for you, too. Hey, Wonderopolis, do you like watermelons? That was the coolest watermelon art ever!!! Wonderopolis is the best website ever!!! Very interesting, to. Thank you so so so much for the bestest video ever in my whole life!!! We think it's really cool when lots and lots and lots of friends give you more and more comments! You guys are the bestest writers ever!!!

Wonderopolis

Sep 30, 2011

That was a GREAT comment, Andrew! We really appreciate all the nice things you said about Wonderopolis...THANK YOU! We're so glad you visit each day and learn new things! Oh, and YES! We love watermelon, too! :-)

kyle the beach

Wonderopolis

Sep 28, 2011

We're glad you thought the video for this Wonder was so cool, Kyle! The amount of measurable water in any watermelon depends on the size of the melon! A watermelon contains about 92% water. That means there is WAY more water in a watermelon that weighs 15 pounds than in one that only weighs 5 pounds! :-)

Wonderopolis

Sep 6, 2011

We agree, A Muggle! Those watermelon flowers were much too pretty to eat. We think it would be so much fun to be able to carve fruit like that, though...it's edible art! Thank you so much for your comment today! :-)

Some Person

Sep 1, 2011

WOW!!!!!! I'm so sp...sp...speechless!!!!!! That guy is just amazing! I learned so many things about watermelons! Who knew you can make watermelon rinds!.... or that it was developed in a desert! I'm hungry for watermelons now! Thanks, Wonderopolis! By the way, why not stop at a market, buy a watermelon, slice it, and eat it! hahahahahaha! :)

Wonderopolis

Aug 31, 2011

Hi, Garrett! Thank you for sharing what you learned from this SWEET Wonder of the Day® about watermelon! Do you like to eat watermelon? We think it is a tasty treat on a hot day...and it helps us stay hydrated! :-)

Sara-MC

Wonderopolis

Aug 30, 2011

We agree, Sara! The watermelon carver must have practiced a LOT to be able to create something so beautiful! We wonder if he carves pumpkins, too? Thank you for visiting Wonderopolis today and for leaving such a great comment! :-)

Zebr2322

Wonderopolis

Aug 29, 2011

Hi there, Freckle Face and Zebr2322! Thank you both for telling us how much you liked today's Wonder of the Day® about watermelons! Be sure to visit Wonderopolis again tomorrow for another Wonder of the Day®!

Veronica S.

Wonderopolis

Aug 29, 2011

Today's Wonder of the Day® has certainly struck a sweet chord with folks, Veronica! We think it's because so many people love to eat watermelon and share it with family and friends! It's the perfect summertime snack! Thank you so much for your comment! :-)

Kerrick Elementary School 2nd/...

Aug 29, 2011

WOW!!! The artist who carved the watermelon in the video was AMAZING!!! At first, we were not sure what he was going to carve. We all agreed "Who would want to eat that, it's too pretty!" :)
We actually have had a water main break at our school today so we may just need to get a watermelon and have a snack to keep hydrated. :)

How Much Water Is In a Watermelon?

having the pleasant taste characteristic of sugar or honey; not salt, sour, or bitter

any of numerous fruits of the gourd family having a hard rind and sweet juicy flesh

having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease

edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant

any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits; used as desserts or in making jams and jellies and preserves

a melon vine of the genus Cucumis; cultivated from earliest times for its cylindrical green fruit

twist and turn from side to side while moving somewhere in order to avoid obstructions

containing combined water (especially water of crystallization as in a hydrate)

the yield from plants in a single growing season

a living organism of the kind exemplified by trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, ferns, and mosses, typically growing in a permanent site, absorbing water and inorganic substances through its roots, and synthesizing nutrients in its leaves by photosynthesis using the green pigment chlorophyll